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His death colossal loss, says Saraki
He was a patriot and icon –Okowa
By Willy Eya and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governors Godwin Obaseki, Ifeanyi Okowa among other eminent Nigerians yesterday, joined the people of Edo State to mourn the death of former governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia.
The late Brigadier General (retd)died on Thursday at 84, after battling with a prolonged ailment.
Benin and the entire Edo State capital yesterday wore a gloomy and mournful look as the octogenarian, who touched their lives as military and civilian governor joined his ancestors.
Ogbemudia junior, the eldest son of the general, confirmed the death of his father to journalists in Benin on Friday.
He said his father passed on in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos, shortly before midnight on Thursday.
He said he would miss everything about his father and noted that the late army officer represented everything to him right from childhood.
According to him, “I learnt so much from him. He was a wonderful man. I will miss everything about him.
“He is a genius; has the ability to anticipate issues and implement things very well. We saw the things he did in the Midwest region and more or less the same thing with his family. He has a lot of children both biological and non biological.
“I know that what he wants for everybody is not to be sad, but to be happy and move forward.
On why his father prepared his grave before his death, he said: “people do it”.
As at yesterday, sympathisers have started trooping to the deceased’s house at 26, Iheya Street, Benin City to sign the condolence register.
The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has already declared seven days mourning commencing from yesterday to mourn the deceased.
…Tinubu, Kalu, Uduaghan, pay tributes
Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described Ogbemudia as a very professional and disciplined military officer.
He praised Ogbemudia’s record of infrastructural development as governor of old Mid-western region, saying it was still being appreciated and talked about till today.
In his condolence message issued by his media office on Friday in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader said: “I received the news of the death of former military governor of old Midwest Region and ex-governor of Bendel State-now Delta and Edo states- Gen. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (CON), on Thursday March 9, 2017 at 11 pm, early this (Friday) morning.
“Though we never wish that our elders leave us even at an advanced age, General Ogbemudia lived to the age of 84. We are not to mourn his death, but celebrate his life and times.
“We have lost an uncommon patriot and nationalist who fought with former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, to keep our dear nation one.
Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, commiserated with the government and people of Edo State over the demise of the former governor of the defunct Midwest region and Old Bendel State.
According to Kalu, the late military officer-cum-politician was dedicated to the welfare of people in his endeavours.
In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said, “the news of the demise of Chief Ogbemudia is painful considering his contributions to the socio-political development of the nation.
“Having built a distinguished career in the military, he remained disciplined, committed and dogged in his pursuits.
“He was a bridge builder and a patriotic statesman. As an advocate of peace, his counsel on national issues will be greatly missed.”
Kalu, while admonishing the deceased’s family to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation, prayed God to grant Chief Ogbemudia eternal rest.
Former Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan,
described the death of Ogbemudia as a colossal loss to the nation at large.
This was contained in a statement written and signed by him and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
He said news of the death of Ogbemudia came to him with mixed feelings of a deep sense of loss and gratitude to God for a life well-lived in the service of his fatherland, his state, and humanity.
Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia was born on September 17, 1932 and was military governor of the Mid-west State, later renamed Bendel State between I967–1975.
He joined the Nigeria Army in 1957, training at Teshie, Ghana and at Netheravon and Salisbury Plain in England (1957). He attended the officer cadet school at Aldershot, England in 1960, and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1961. He attended the United States army special welfare school at Fort Bragg, South Carolina in 1962. Ogbemudia served with the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Congo for 16 months, and served in Tanzania in 1964. He was appointed as an instructor to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria in 1964.
The deceased, who showed passion for reconstruction after the Nigerian civil war, initiated improvements in the areas of sports, urban development, education, public transportation, housing and commerce. He built the Ogbe Sports Stadium, now named the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and in August 1973 he commissioned the three-story National Museum in Benin City.
Some of his legacies include the Agbede Mechanized Farm, the Warrake Farms, the Rural Electrification Board, the Bendel Steel Structures, the Bendel Brewery, Bendel Pharmaceuticals, Bendel Boatyard, Bendel Library, Ethiope Publishing Corporation, the University of Benin, the Institute of Continuing Education, NTA Benin, the Bendel Line.
What he said at 2015 The Sun Awards
Late Ogbemudia, who expressed happiness over the conferment of The Sun 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award on him said the recognition was a testimony that hard work and honest contribution to the socio-economic and political development of the country would stand people out.
Speaking in Benin City, the Edo State capital, while receiving a delegation from The Sun Publishing Limited that visited to present a letter formally notifying him of his award, Ogbemudia said the recognition by The Sun had proved those who thought that hard work and selfless service do not pay wrong.
He said: “I am very, very excited and most grateful to The Sun Newspapers, the staff and management for this great honour. I believe the award is in recognition of my activities and services in government. I will put it this way: I have been vindicated. The award is a testimony that hard work and selfless service pay.”
